Respiratory Therapy Programs in Nebraska - NE

A respiratory therapist, under the direction of a physician, evaluates, treats, and cares for patients with cardiopulmonary dysfunctions. This can range from analyzing a patient’s lung volume, analyzing the gas make-up of a person’s blood, and teaching a patient how to use his or her medicine.

The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) reports that the employment outlook for respiratory therapists over the next ten years is very good, and that there should be many job opportunities. Nebraska is certainly included in this national trend as the population ages, along with other factors such as the increasing number of individuals interested in smoking cessation.
www.bls.gov

Respiratory Therapist Education in the State of Nebraska

In order to become a respiratory therapist in the state of Nebraska, one must first graduate from one of the accredited online or campus based Nebraska respiratory therapy schools. This accreditation is by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) along with the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

There are two types of programs that can be accredited by the CoARC. The first is an associate’s degree program. These types of programs are typically housed in community or junior colleges and can be completed in two years. The other type of respiratory therapy education program is a bachelor’s degree program. These programs are typically housed in four year colleges or universities and can be completed in four years. While an associate’s degree is the required minimum, a bachelor’s degree may be required for advancement of one’s career.

In addition to courses specific to respiratory care, there will also be courses related to anatomy and physiology, chemistry, psychology, and biology across the lifespan. Additionally, the respiratory therapy education program will also include a clinical education component in addition to the classroom education.

Through campus or online programs, aspiring Respiratory Therapists in Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue and Grand Island, Nebraska may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Bryan LGH Medical Center, Lincoln Surgical Hospital, Alegent Healthcare and Blue Cross of Nebraska.